Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-03-03
I'd EDITION.
Latest lblGglams to TlB Star.
A MYSTERIOUS SHOOTING AFFAIR.
A Son Of Gen. COndit Smith Shot In q
New York Street.


Special Dispatch to THE EVENING STAR.
NEW YORK, March 3.-John COndit Smith, q
fashionable dressed and fine looking young man
OF about 2l, while walking down the Madison
avenue side of Madison square shortly after
a. IN. to-day, was shot In the right shoulder and
seriously wounded by tall man, who stepped up
M front OF him and after firing the shot imme-
diately escaped Policeman Meacle, OF Captain
Williams squad, was patrolling his beat on the
west Side OF the square when the shot was nreo.
lie turned In the direction from which the sound
came, but the dark shadow beyond the glare OF
the big electric light in the center OF the park pre-
vented him from seeing where the shooting had
Deen done. He ran across the park instantly ana
FOUND SMITH LYING ON BENCH
surrounded by half dozen strangers. Omcer
MatthewSon OF the same precinct, and Park
Policeman Taylor soon came up and the ambu-
lance was summoned. The bullet was large
one and Smith bled considerably before sur
geon arrived. Meacle asked the wounded man to
explain how he had been shot. 81 don't know
anything about It," said he except that tall
man ran In front OF me, opposite oath street, and
hred, running away toward 23d street after doing
IL. never saw the man before and am not sure
That could identify him II l saw him again"
me locality was searched, but no pistol could be
further questioning Smith said he had just come
from The depot, but did not explain how he came
10 De walking down Madison avenue at that hour,
that
HE WAS IN WASHINGTON
not long since. While there received an anony-
nous letter, which threatened him. in the event OF
his return to New York, with some kind of severe
chastisement. He had no means OF tracing the
source OF that letter. and could think OF no reason
why it should have been written. After receiving
the letter. Smith went on, he hired powerful col
ored man to accompany him as body guard. The
cd pbp,e. 1nn at hot mn
ment, and Smith replied that the man was with
him up to the time Of the shooting but
RAN AWAY WHEN HE HEARD THE REPORT OF THE Pts
Toll.
He could not tell in what direction the efficient
escort had made off. Officer Meacle made in
quiries about the scene of the affair after Smith
was taken Of to the hospital, and was informed
man house about an hour before he was shot.
Meacle says, however, that when he examined the
young man, before the ambulance arrived, he no
William Hogan, of 216 E. 26th street. who has
cabin In the night stand at Madison Square, told
the officer that he
HAD SEEN SMITH INSULT LADY
who was walking along the west side Of the square
and he was much surprised that the gentleman
who was with her did not "punch the fellow in the
head" This, Hogan said, was about an hour be-
fore the shooting. To-day Smith declines to speak
on the subject OF the affair. The doctors at the
and he seems to be satisfied with that. He would
neither advance theory as TO the cause OF the
shooting nor refer to the anonymous letter. nor
the absent cOOred man. The hospital authorities
had only say that Smith would come out all
right.
Young Smith, the wounded man, is son OF the
late General John COndit S. Smith. OF Troy Hills,
New Jersey. His father served chief quarter
master general under Sherman from the begin
ming OF the war until the opening OF the Atlanta
campaign. He was then promoted to the position
OF CHIEF engineer of the military railroad, and was
located at savannah. Recently General Smith
Stephen Field after the
General died, leaving several sons and daughters,
and the children are
NOW LIVING IN WASHINGTON
with their stepmother. Thomas o. Smith, OF SIT
9Th avenue, and Richard Smith, OF 161 Broadway,
are uncles of young Smith. The former is milk
merchant and the latter contractor. Inquiry at
40 Clermont avenue, handsome three-story and
basement brOwnstOne house, in a fashionable part
of Brooklyn, revealed the fact that young Smith
as As ~s quiet, a, gsntiemanly young tel;
Ths M q, GaSn ara
were notified of the shooting by policeman at
about am. to-day, and left for the hospital
who VS. the reporters informant, stated that
young Smith came home as usual from Claghorn's
Business college, on Court street, Brooklyn, where
O'Clock yesterday afternoon and after changing
his clothes left the house again at about O'Clock,
saying he was going to New York to
meet some friends, but would return by
IL o'clock p. m. He very, rarely stayed
out later than mat hour, and his roommate,
young Calk1ns, was surprised when he had not
returned by midnight, but concluded that he had
decided TO stop over night with his friends in this
city. Young Smith, the lady continued, always
received number OF letters, and some OF these,
she knew, were pOStmarked Washington, ID. c.,
where he said his mother and step-father resided.
None OF the members OF the family, however, had
heard him say anything OF receiving threaten
ing letter.
mans name Is Geo. Smith, and that the name he
first gave is that OF his brother, who Is at Prince
ton college.